"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Our Focus

He sat quietly alone thinking about his betrayal. How could I have done such! His head spinning from the thought of the events about to happen. I did the unthinkable. I . . . he was like a brother to me. He was so loving. Dear God my unforgivable sin I can’t live on. I wish that I had never been born.

When they sat at the table He didn’t care who held the plate or who passed the wine His care was only of those around Him on this the last meal that they would share. Who were those who handed the bread and wine to Him? Is it important? At that moment, that moment of sharing, a remembrance of Him, giving His life for us, fulfilling a prophecy told before He came.

What was important?

How can I deny Him, my friend, my brother, my Lord?

When I began to write this it was to be about Judas and how much his story tugs at my heart. His story planned before he came. It seems so unfair to me. If his story was planned then what of ours? I want to read his story and see a happy ending. It brings me to tears for the pain that he felt. I realize that God knew his heart. He knew that when he was tempted he’d fall prey. I know about falling prey to temptations I do it every day. Brothers turning there backs on Him giving him away with a kiss.

A kiss that would hurt both hearts.

As I sat in church watching a disruption during communion over nothing really I wondered does He feel as if He once again has been sold for nothing. They stand on of the essence of scripture they say as they break what they say they believe. They betray and deny Him when they choose to disrupt that moment.

I wonder how many times we betray Him.

Arguments of should the bread be precut should it be so small should it be a cracker real wine fake wine. Can a woman pass communion?

I sometimes wonder if He wants to yell at our ridiculousness of it all.

We shouldn’t put our focus on who passed the plate or on the kind of wine and bread that we have. Our focus should be one, the empty cross and the love that He gave us.

5 comments:

I hear you ... I have almost the same thoughts on Judas as well. The thing is that he will be forgiven if he repented and come before God in nothingness. The cross is able to save all who believes. But like him, we also have too much pride and prefer to settle matters ourselves.

We shouldn’t put our focus on who passed the plate or on the kind of wine and bread that we have. Our focus should be one, the empty cross and the love that He gave us.

Excellently worded. It is indeed the empty cross that counts above all.

I look at Judas and how he betrayed Jesus. Then I look at Peter and how he betrayed Jesus. One sold him to his death. The other denied knowing him in his hour of need. One couldn't live with the guilt, neither could the other. One's solution was to end the pain by checking out. The other's solution was to end the pain with repentance. That is the decision that God allows us each to make.

Unfortunately, I understand all too well getting focused on the minor things while the major things are ignored. I've been involved in "majoring in the minors". It's not until I focus back on Jesus that I realize what I've been doing and can repent and change. It can be done. Just look at Peter. That's where we need patience and grace for one another.

Amen, but it's not in 33AD. The happy ending is only back before creation, when God planned how He would draw beauty out of the poison. In 33AD, and 2006AD, God has not yet told us how He did it. We only know to trust Him.

Nice thoughts Milly - don't think that I'll think of Judas the same again. I like Matt Redman's music and that song.

I wonder if the "Heart of Worship" is the heart of Jesus. Not sure that many get Jesus' heart though. Judas didn't, Peter didn't - nobody got it until the Holy Spirit came in power. I am reminded that true worship is one of both Spirit and Truth ... maybe that is a good description of the heart of worship.

"Prophesy says that it is time to share some of the sacred traditions of our culture. The four colors of man will be coming together to unite and heal. Creator has given different gifts and responsibilities to each of the four colors. Ours is to help preserve Earth for all the children. Time is running out. It’s time to act."-Indigenous Spiritual Leaders of the Americas -